Small business owners in Saint Paul, mark your calendars for the latest round of Neighborhood STAR grants. Applications for the program, which aims to bolster local prosperity and cultural diversity through capital improvements, are set to go live at the end of March. As noted by the City of Saint Paul on their official website, the grant caters to projects with an anticipated lifespan exceeding seven years and can be for amounts up to $50,000.
The application process starts on March 31, 2025, through the City's dedicated portal, and all proposals must be funneled through the ZoomGrants system by 4 p.m. come May 2. Applications need to be complete, and all necessary attachments must be included to avoid being left out for funding consideration. The City also mentions that a virtual workshop is on the books for April 8, where potential applicants can gather intel on the grant submission process and pose queries directly to the STAR program staff.
North End Car Wash owners Amy Ennen Bertomeu and Alberto Bertomeu shared, “The Neighborhood STAR program provides business owners and local organizations the funds to make better spaces,” according to the statement obtained by the City of Saint Paul. Since its inception in 1995, the initiative has seen the city pour resources into over 1,200 projects. Another local entrepreneur, Gloria Contreras Edin of Tiger Investments, LLC, echoed this sentiment and voiced her enthusiasm for the collaboration between the city and her upcoming project.
Those aiming to delve deeper into what the Neighborhood STAR program offers can peruse the guidelines and FAQs on St. Paul's website.
